The Washington critic., 1887-12-19
WEALTH IN THE SENATE.
An Inventory Of 0.The American House
of Lords"
QUITEAN UNEXPECTED SHOWING
Not so Many Miliionaircs or Rich
Men us Generally Supposed.

Vhcu us 1CuCruliy ouppOseu.
During the last ten years it has become
90 fashionable TO abusc the ssnsto by
calling II the American House of
Lords" and to arraign Senators as cor
rupt millionaires, most Of whom bought
their way to their seats, that it is now
the general impression that those condi-
tions Of opulence and exclusiveness pre-
vailed to such an extent as to impair the
usefulness Of that body and to reflect
more Or less dishonor on its members.
One day this week, meeting Senator
Evarts and Senator Voorhees, lunching
In the Senate restaurant, l called their
attention to the prevailing impression,
md inquired If the American Senate
was really body Of millionaircs and
the creatures Of corporations.
"AIillionaires" exclaimed Mr.. Voor-
hccs with ,snilr of indignation; y
ion't believe that there is National
Legislature in the world whose members
possess less money"
"House Of Lords!" echoed Mr.. Evarts;
"evcry Senator represents the people of
definite organized section Of the Re-
public, while the House Of Lords repre-
scnts nothing but prescription, the en-
tail of an hereditary aristocracy."
The next day i called on Senator In
gals, who, rs presiding officer Of the
Senate, speaks to 4 certain extent Off
cially. ~ cannot understand" said he,
why IL is that the newspapers Of the
country represent the Senate as COM
posed Of railroad attorneys and mag
iiates.' The charge might just as well
pe brought against the Evangelical Alli-
ance. Why don't you inquire into this
matter and tell the truth about IT."
at once set about the inquiry. During
its progress learned something of what
James &. Blaine and President Cleve-
land are worth. Blaine is worth, am
told, In tho neighborhood of S250,OO
Tho President can probably count up
$150,000 TO his credit.
Yesterday they showed me curious
document ut the White House-n bond
which the President had Just signed for
his steward, probably the first bond ever
signed by n President to enable the pnr-
veyor Of the Executive Mansion to enter
on his duties. 1t was all carefully filled
In in Mr.. Cleveiand's delicate and rather
dainty hand, and in it he has stated, in
non-committal terms, that his real estate
In tho District Of Columbia was worth
''more than $30,00o," and his personal
property ''morc than $4,000" So the
President is worth ''more than" $4,000
in Washington, not counting his Albany
and Buffalo investments and Mrs. Cleve
lands real estate in Omaha.
THE NEW ENGLAND SENATORS.
Let us take the States in order of geo
graphical sequence.
NIaine-Fryc is a poor man, dc
pendent on his salary for his support
Hale opportunely married ZACH. Chand
lers daughter, and with herwon ibou
three-quarters Of million dollars. Now
he about holds his own.
New Hampshire-Blair is poor maj
and Chandler is u man of moderate
means-worth, perhaps, $50, COO.
Vermont-Edmunds has always beer
industrious and thrifty, seldom dc
clining to lift anything that he coulC
carry. He is q corporation lawyer, anC
probably worth S500,000. His beautiful
house has separate staircase for his do,
To go up and down from floor to floor
Morrill,, too, is well fixed. He got hi
money in honest trade, having been
merchant. Before he came to the Sen
ate he was independent, and has sine
accumulated by the gradual accretion
Of frugal man.
Observation-Disclosures has nothing,
believe, but q house in Worcester, whicl
he has not entirely paid for. and Dave
Is understood to be without property.
Rhode Island--Aldrich was a poo
farmers boy and went into Providence
about as Dick Wilmington went int
London. He began as clerk in II gro
Gerry and has given n. full equivalent in
hard and honest work for every dolla
he owns--probally some 5000, 900. Chac
Ia still better off, being worth S500,000
which he made in cotton manufactur
ing.
Connecticut Hawley might be a
proud as Miss Mac Bride of variou
things-of his reputation for unswery
ing Integrity, of his splendid militar,
record, Of his Puritan ancestry. He own
. quarter of the Hartford Courant an,
sllthat implies, and gets, l believe, 81,
600 year for serving the American Ex
change in Europe in capacity of presi
dent. He insists that there are grea
many things more valuable than money
rlatt is fixed about the same way, an,
has scarcely any income except his sal
ary. Hetis an honest and able lawyer
house In Meriden. He afiirms that til
man who is thoroughly comfortable
just as we'll off as If he were rich.
MIDDLE STATES SENATORS.
New York-Evarts has big fees an
immense practice, but he has alway
lived stylishly, and is not a rich mar
Hiscock is probably worth one-quarte
as much as Evarts.
New Jersey-Both the New Jcrse
Senators are wcll-fixed. Mcpherson ha
. handsome fortune earned in the Ia,
and in stocks; and Blodgett. twenty-fv
years ago New Haven machinist, aftci
wards became entangled with New Jci
sey railroads with the usual result.
Pennsylvania-Don Cameron said i
my presence last summer that his il
come was "about $500 a ayear''--abou
$500 day. He is the only man in tn
Senate who inherited wealth. Quay
worth some 100000.
Delaware--Saulsbury never shows an
evidence Of fortune in Washington
y probably poor. Gray is said to b
worth S75,O0Q